Genre: pop
Rating: 3 stars ***
Title: Freewheelin'
Company: Just Sunshine
Catalog: JSS
9
Year: 1973
Country/State: San Francisco, California
Grade (cover/record): VG / VG
Comments: original lyric inner sleeve
Available: 1
GEMM catalog ID: 5459
Price: $15.00
Given their credentials you'd think San Francisco's The Fabulous Rhinestones would have generated considerable attention and commensorate sales. Didn't happen ...
In 1971 Woodstock promoter Michael Lang became interested in financing a band. He got in touch with bassist Harvey Brooks who'd previously been a member of The Electric Flag and an in-demand sessions player. Brooks brought buddy and ex-Illinois Speed Press guitarist Kal David into the project, rounding out the lineup with keyboardist Marty Grebb. Grebb's resume was equally impressive including stints with The Exceptions, The Buckingham, and Lovecraft.
Produced by Bill Szymczyk on Lang's Just Sunshine label, 1973's "Freewheelin'" offered up a first-rate set of early-1970s AOR pop. With all three members contributing material, tracks like 'Down To the City', 'Go with Change' and 'What Becomes of Your Life' bore more than a passing resemblance to Robert Lamm, Terry Kath and Chicago. The Brecker Brothers were even there to provide horn arrangements. That may not seem like a very promising comparison to some folks, but I'm talking about early career Chicago when they still knew how to craft a rock song ... Perhaps no surprise to learn that Grebb late went on to play with Chicago. With the expcetion of the cocktail jazzy instrumental 'Whitecaps' virtually any one of these tracks would have made a decent 45, though Just Sunshine managed to pick what was probably the least appropriate song for a single - 'Freewheelin'' b/w 'Whitecaps' (Just Sunshine catalog number #509). Given these guys weren't the best looking trio you've every heard it might not have been a total surprise to discover the album did sell squat.
"Freehweelin'" track listing:
(side 1)
1.) Freewheelin' (Marty Grebb - Harvey Brooks - Kat McCord) - 3:07
2.) Down To the City (Kal David - Marty Grebb) - 4:22
3.) Go with Change (Kal David - Marty Grebb - Harvey Brooks) - 3:55
4.) What Becomes of Your Life - Marty Grebb) - 3:54
5.) Vicious Circle (Kal David - Marty Grebb) - 4:46
(side
2)
1.) Do It Like Ya Mean It (Marty Grebb - David Thomas) -
4:05
2.) Roots With You Girl (Kal David - Marty Grebb - Harvy Brooks -- Kat McCord) - 4:19
3.) Hurt Somebody (Leon russell) - 4:18
4.) Whitecaps (instrumental) (Marty Grebb - Harvey Brooks - Kal David - David Sanborn) - 5:30